Automatic weighing-machine.



PATENTBD JUNE 23, 1903.

S. S. BLAISDELL. AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1, 1902.

2 SHEBTSr-QHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

I nvntor. SidwajfiBiaz $82 12 Witnesss No. 731,845. PA'TENTED "mums," 1903. s. s. BLAISDELL. V AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

ABPLIOATION PILED'JULY 1., 1902.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor.

Attorney 8 Witnesses UNITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE. V

SIDNEY S. BLAISDELL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERIO N. BUSHNELL, OF EDGEWOOD, ORANSTON,

RHODE ISLAND.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 731,845, dated June 23, 1903- Application filed July 1.1902- Serial No. 113,953. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY S. BLAISDELL, a resident. of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Automatic Weighing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to weighing-machines of the class employed to ascertain the weights of material in bulk, such as coal, ores, grain, and other like comminuted substances.

The object of the invention is to enable the material while in bulk to be weighed auto matically in such quantities as may be desired and at the same time record the weight and the date automatically. I

Myinvention is fully described in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation of my apparatus, showing the general arrangements of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the details of the mechanism which operates the gates on the weighing-bucket, also the switch which controls the opening and closing of the gate on the feed-hopper, together with the clock, a portion of which is broken away to show the recording mechanism. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the position and arrangements of the time-recording cylinder and one of the feed-rolls. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of the type-bar with the type-boxes in section, the front plate removed and the type held in place by a set-screw.

In the construction, A is the supply-chamher from which the coal runs through the hopper B to the weighing-bucket O, which supply is controlled by the gate D. This gate is operated through the lever E, which is pivoted on and suspended from the frame F. The inner end of said lever bears against the short arm G of the gate D, while its outer end is connected through the rod 11 to the hand-lever I, by which said gate may be operated when desired and locked in the closed position by the pawl J, which falls of its own gravity, keeping the handle from rising when it is down.

K is an electromagnet which rests on the bracket F and when energized in the manner hereinafter described draws up the lever E and closes off the supply of coal by shutting the gate D.

L is a baffie-plate which receives the coal from the hopper and reduces the force of its fall to a minimum before it enters the weighing-bucket. The weighing-bucket is suspended from the scale-beam, on the end of which its tru n nions M are journaled. The inner end of the scale-beam is made to yoke around the bucket at N, taking in the trunnions M on both sides, and is fulcrumed at O on the I-beam S a short distance out from the center of the bucket.

P is the sliding weight, hung on the single part R of the scale-beam and may be adjusted to balance the bucket O and any amount of material that may be desired to be weighed in it.

'1 is a slotted plate fast to the I-beam in which the end of the scale-beam rises and falls, controlling the drop or rise of the bucket by bringing up against the ends of the adjusting-screwstt, which are threaded through the top and bottom of the plate.

V V are double gates on the lower end of the bucket 0, (see Fig. 2,) hinged at W W, and are opened and closed by the movement of the lever a through the connections 5 b, which connections are pivoted on the end of the lever at c and on the doors at d d. This lever Ct may be operated by hand or by the electromagnet e, which is supported from the side of the bucket O and may be energized or deenergized' by pressing the black or white button for g, (see Fig. 1,) which makes or breaks the circuit between the source of the current and the magnet.

When this apparatus is used bya fireman for weighing the coal used by his boilers, it is found desirable to so arrange the mechanism that the feed-hopper door D shall be instantly closed automatically and shut off the supply of coal, either when the amount to which the weight is set has been drawn into the bucket or when the bucket-doors should be opened either inadvertently or intentionally, and also to register the amount of coal used during the day on a slip of paper and stamp the date thereon, all of which is accomplished by the following mechanism.

A is a supporting-plate fixed at its upper end to the I-beam S.

B is a rack held to the plate A by friction of the screws h h to slide endwise.

C is a dog pivoted at t' on the bucket, its lower arm resting against the gate V, while its upper arm strikes against the lower end of the rack B and pushes it up as the door is closed.

The segment E is connected to the switchbar F when the bucket 0 falls, the lug D'- comes in contact with the upper end of the rack B, driving it down and rotating the segment which it engages, thereby throwing the lugs it around into contact with bindingposts m m, completing the electrical circuit, and the hopper-door D is closed by the magnet K. The inner end of the lever a is turned down at n for the purpose of engaging the switch-bar F to throw the switch whenever lever ct is dropped to open the doors V V.

p is a hanging pawl pivoted to the lever a, which through gravity is normally out of line of engagement with lug 0, but which may be swung over by hand to engage said lug and hold the doors closed in case it should be so desired when the current is off of the magnets 6.

The automatic registering device is contained within the clock case G, which is partly broken away in Fig. 2 for the purpose of showing the operating mechanism.

9 and s are the feed-rolls, which may be actuated by the movement of the segment E through the crank g, connecting-rod o, lever 10, pawl a, and ratchet b.

At 0 is the roll of paper 0 in ribbon form, which passes around the feed-rolls s and r, by which it is fed to the take-up roll 01.

e is a hammer pivoted at f, on the face of which is set the figures to indicate the weight of material to be drawn into the bucket C. When the bucket is filled, it drops and the rod o is carried upward, and while the paper is being fed along by the feed-rolls r and s the latch-dog it engages the outer end of hammer e and raises the end until it slips by. The hammer is then thrown upward by the spring j, which it has just compressed,

and thrown against the paper ribbon, on

which it leaves the impression of the figures which are held on its face.

The time-recording mechanism is actuated by the cam is, fast to the shaft m and revolved continuously by the gear n,which gear meshes with the gear that-operates the clockdial and may be revolved once in twentyfour hours or as often as may be desired.

As shown in Fig. 3, the time-recording cylvets 15 inder is located on the same shaft as the feed record the date the cam 7c has revolved to the point where the lever t, actuated by the spring V, is thrown up into the notch on its face, which actuates the hammer to through the connection Zand lever 11 throwing it up and driving the paper ribbon against the typeroll, leaving the impression of the figures thereon. As the cam 70 continues to revolve, it feeds the type-roll r ahead ready to receive the next stroke of its hammer w at the proper time.

I do not wish to be confined to the exact construct-ion shown and described, as it may be varied to suit the various conditions under which my apparatus is operated.

To enable others skilled in the art to apply and use my invention, I will now more fully describe the operation of the same. The parts, as shown in Fig. 1, occupy their primary positions, the gate D on the feed-hopper closed, the gates V V on the weighingbucket open, and the adjustable weight P on the scale-beam setfor instance, at two hundred and fifty pounds. The first thing now to be done is to close the bucket-doors, as no coal can bedrawn from the hopper while they are open. To do this, the black buttonf is pressed, which makes the electric connection necessary to' energize the electromagnet e. The lever a is drawn up and the gates V V on the bucket are closed and held fast by the magnet, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The act of closing these gates throws the switch in the manner described above, deenergizing the electromagnet K. The locking-pawl J is then raised from the hand-lever I and the gate D on the feed-hopper is allowed to open by the weight of coal pressing against it. The bucket is then filled until it overbalances the weight P on the scale-beam and in falling carries with it the rack B, which throws the switch in contact, and the magnet K is again energized and the gate D on the feedhopper instantly closed, shutting off the sup ply of coal. When it is desired to empty the bucket, the car or barrow Z is run under it, the white button 9 is pressed, denergizing the magnet e, and the gates V V are allowed to open and the contents discharged into the car. This operation may be repeated indefinitely, and in case of accident to the electromagnets the gates may be operated by the hand -levers a and 1. (Shown in Fig. 1.)

Each time the bucket is filled and discharged the weight is automatically registered on the paper ribbon, as hereinbefore described, and at the end of each day of twenty-four hours IIO the day of the week, month, and year are also registered on the same slip, which may be torn off and filed away for reference, thereby keeping an accurate account of the amount of coal used each day by the fireman.

Having thus described my improvement,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- V 1. Ina weighing device, a feed-hopper, a weighing-bucket having discharge mechanism, means for shutting off the supply from said hopper when a predetermined quantity of material has been drawn into said bucket, and an electric device operated independent of the movement of said bucket or the weighing mechanism for releasing said hopper-closing means and simultaneously controlling the opening and closing of the discharge mechanism-of said weighing-bucket, as set forth.

2. In a weighing device, a feed-hopper, a weighing-bucket having discharge mechanism, a circuit-closer alternately operated by said bucket and said discharge mechanism, a magnet in circuit with said circuit-closer, a cut-0H for said hopper having a member located within the field of said magnet and controlled by the latter, and an electric device for controlling the movement of the discharge mechanism of said weighing-bucket, as set forth.

3. In a weighing device, a feed-hopper, a weighing-bucket having discharge mechanism, a circuit-closer alternately operated by said bucket and said discharge mechanism, a magnet in circuit with said circuit-closer, a cut-off for said hopper having a member located within the field of said magnet and controlled by the latter, and an electric device for controlling the movement of the discharge mechanism of said weighing-bucket, in combination with means for automatically record ing the weight of material deposited in said weighing-bucket, substantially as set forth.

4. In a weighing device, a feed-hopper, a cut-off therefor, a weighing-bucket, means for operating said cut-off when a predetermined quantity of material has been drawn into said bucket, a circuit-closer controlling said cut-01f, and a second circuit-closer operated independent of the movement of said bucket for controlling the discharge from the latter and simultaneously effecting a release of said cut-off, as set forth.

5. In a device of the character described, a feed-hopper, a gate on said feed-hopper, a weighing-bucket supported on a scale-beam, said scale-beam, gates on the lower end of said bucket, means for automatically open ing said hopper-gate when said bucket-gates are closed, in combination with means for closing said hopper-gate automatically when a predetermined amount of material has been drawn into said bucket, means, operated independent of the movement of the bucket for operating the bucket-gates, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, a

gates on the lower end of said bucket, means for automatically opening said hopper-gates when said bucket-gates are closed, in combination with means for closing said hoppergate automatically when a predetermined amount of material has been drawn into said bucket, or when said bucket-gates are opened, electrical means, operated independently from the movement of the bucket, for operating a lever to close said bucket, substantially as described.

8. In a weighing-machine, a'feed-hopper, a gate on said feed-hopper, a weighing-bucket supported on a scale-beam, said scale-beam,

gates on the lower end of said bucket, means.

forautomat-ically opening said hopper-gate when said bucket-gates are closed, in combination with means for closing said hoppergate automatically When a predetermined amount of material has been drawn into said bucket,or when said bucket-gates are opened, means for closing and opening said bucketgates by energizing, and denergizing anelectromagnet, said electromagnet, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, a v

feed-hopper, a gate on said feed-hopper, a weighing-bucket, gates on the lower end of said bucket, means for automatically opening said hopper-gate when said bucket-gate is closed in combination with means for closing said hopper-gate automatically by energizing I an electromagnet when said bucket descends,

said electromagnet, means for automatically recording the weight each time the bucketdoors are opened, substantially as described.

10. In a weighing device, a feed-hopper, a gate on said feed-hopper, a weighing-bucket, supported on a scale-beam, said scale-beam, gates on the lower end of said bucket, means including a rack, segment, a switch and an electromagnet for automatically allowing said hopper-gate to open by deenergizing said magnet when said bucket-gates are closed, and for closing said hoppergate automatically when said bucket descends, by energizing said electromagnet, means for automatically recording the weight each time the bucketdoors are opened, substantially as described.

11. In a weighing apparatus, in combination, a hopper, a hopper-door, a weighingbucket supported on trunnions on a scalebeam, said scale-beam, said scale-beam fulcrumed a short distance off the center of the ICO bucket on a stationary beam, and balanced on its outer end by an adjustable weight, gates on the lowerend of said bucket arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of a lever, said lever, a stationary supportingplate, a rack held by friction to slide endwise on said plate, said rack arranged to be thrown up when said gates are closed and to be driven down when the bucket falls and operates a switch for opening and closing the hoppergate, said switch, substantially as described.

12. In a weighing device, in combination, a feed-hopper, a hopper-door, a Weighingbucket, supported on trunnions on a scalebeam, said scale-beam, said scale-beam fulcrumed a short distance off the center of the bucket on a stationary beam, and balanced on its outer end by an adjustable Weight, gates on thelower end of said bucket arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of a lever, said lever, a stationary supportingplate, mechanism held on said supportingplate arranged to be operated when the bucket-gates are opened and closed, said mechanism also operated by the downward movement of the bucket to close the hoppergates, substantially as described.

13. In a Weighing device, in combination, a feed-hopper, a hopper-door, a weighingbucket, gates on the lower end of said bucket arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of a lever, said lever, a stationary supporting-plate, a rack held by friction to slide endwise on said plate, said rack arranged to be thrown up when said gates are closed and to be driven down when the bucket falls and operate a switch for opening and closing the hopper-gate, and said switch, substantially as described.

14. In a weighing device, in combination, a feed-hopper, a hopper-door, a weighingbucket, supported on trunnions on a scalebeam, said scale-beam, said scale-beam fulorumed a short distance ofi the center of the bucket on a stationary beam, and balanced on its outer end by an adjustable weight, gates on the lower end of said bucket arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of a lever, said lever, a stationary supportingplate, mechanism held on said supportingplate arranged to be operated when the bucket-gates are opened and closed, said mechanism also operated by the downward movement of the bucket, to close the hoppergates, and means for automatically recording the Weight each time the bucket is filled and descends, substantially as described.

15. In a weighing device, in combination, a feed-hopper, a hopper-door, a weighingbucket supported on trunnions on a scalebeam, said scale-beam, said scale-beam fulcrumed a short distance off the center of the bucket on a stationary beam, and balanced on its outer end by an adjustable weight, gates on the lower end of said bucket arranged to be opened and closed by the movement of a lever, a stationary supporting-plate, a rack held by friction to slide endwise on said plate, said rack arranged to be thrown up when said gates are closed and to be driven down when the bucket falls and operate a switch for opening and closing the hopper-gate, said switch, means for automatically recording the Weight each time the bucket is filled and descends, also means for automatically recording the date, substantially as described.

16. In a weighing-machine, a feed-hopper,

a gate on said feed-hopper, a weighingbucket supported on a scale-beam, said scalebealn, gates on the lower end of said bucket, means for automatically opening said hoppergate when said bucket-gates are closed, in combination with means for closing said hoppergate automatically when said bucketgates are opened, independentlyoperated means for closing and opening said bucketgates by energizing, and deenergizing an electromagnet, said electromagnet, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of June, A. D. 1902.

SIDNEY s. BL'AISDELL,

' In presence of- HOWARD E. BARLOW, S. CHAS. TURNER. 

